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Cabin crew working at Japan Airlines’ Heathrow base are threatening strike action after “overwhelmingly” rejecting the carrier’s latest pay deal.
Members of the Unite union voted by 82.5% to reject the offer, which sees long serving crew at the top of the pay scale getting no pay rise, other than a £96 a year increase in London weighting.
The lowest paid crew, on a basic wage of £9,000 a year, will only see their basic pay increase by £285 a year, according to the union.
Unite represents cabin crew operating on routes out of Heathrow to destinations in Japan, including Tokyo.
The union’s regional officer, Simon McCartney, said: “Loyal cabin crew feel totally undervalued and insulted by this pay offer, which fails to recognise their hard work on some of the airline’s most profitable routes.
“Japan Airlines has totally misjudged the mood of cabin crew operating out of Heathrow and failed to recognise their role in securing profits of £1 billion.
“Feelings are running high and the airline needs to get back around the negotiating table or face the real possibility of a vote in favour of industrial action.”